Spain’s PM vows action as housing protest sparked by eviction grows

MADRID: As the housing crisis in Spain escalates, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed on Sunday to take swift government action following a growing protest camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol public square. The protest was sparked by the police eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, from her lifelong home, which has exposed long-standing resentment towards skyrocketing housing costs in major Spanish cities.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday, culminating in hundreds setting up tents within Puerta del Sol, vowing to remain until housing access is improved or the government falls. The Madrid Tenants Union, which organized the protest, claimed over 300,000 people participated, though authorities reported 25,000.

"We'll stay as long as necessary," said one 28-year-old protester, Sergio, in front of his tent. The housing issue has become a pressing topic ahead of the upcoming general election next year.

Sanchez, speaking at a political rally organized by his Socialist Party, addressed Abascal directly, promising: "Maricarmen, I have a message for you. The government is working all out to present the law on housing." He called on other political parties to support the bill, which aims to include measures such as automatic renewal of rental contracts and stricter eviction regulations. However, Sanchez's party does not have a majority in Spain's parliament, putting the bill's approval in doubt.

Abascal's eviction, which occurred after a real estate firm acquired her apartment and raised the rent by 275% to 2,650 euros ($3,000), has become a symbol of Spain's housing crisis. She urged Spaniards to join the protest via a hospital video message, expressing her desire for her experience to prevent others from facing similar hardships.

The rental market in Madrid has become unaffordable, with rent prices nearly doubling in the past decade, according to Madrid real-estate site Idealista. The Bank of Spain estimates a shortage of 700,000 homes in the country of 50 million people, driven by demand growth from tourism and immigration.